Friends say Sheldon Hall's efforts to preserve the history of Spanish colonialism in the Borderland have cemented his legacy in El Paso.

Hall, who had been in hospice care, died Thursday in his sleep at the age of 95.

Reporter Hayley Kappes

He spearheaded the Mission Trail Association, which preserved historic missions in the Lower Valley, and he brought international attention to the notion that the first Thanksgiving happened on the banks of the Rio Grande with Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate and his followers in 1598, instead of the Pilgrims' feast in Massachusetts that followed 23 years later.

He would even travel to Plymouth Rock every November to educate people about the real first Thanksgiving, friend Elias Bonilla said.

"He was able to make the rest of us see this history," Bonilla said. "Most people in El Paso didn't appreciate the value of the existing missions. He had a brilliant approach to making the Mission Valley a valid thing for El Paso."

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After moving to El Paso from Cleveland in 1956, Hall started a metal construction business. A history buff, Hall became involved with the El Paso Historical Alliance, the El Paso County Historical Society and the El Paso County Historical Commission.

Tom Moore, who befriended Hall in the early 1960s, called him "a gregarious and wonderfully enthusiastic, inspiring person."

Moore said Hall's frustration with poor public knowledge of El Paso County's missions spurred him to create the Mission Trail Association, which promotes tourism of the historic places.

"He was just angry that people would drive through El Paso on their way to California and had no idea about the missions that were here," Moore said. "People would drive from St. Louis or Tampa to see the missions in California, and had no idea of knowing about these missions, which were older than those in California."

Hall saw a story in the missions that he had to tell, said Bernie Sargent, chairman of the El Paso County Historical Commission.

Sargent first met Hall about 25 years ago during the annual first Thanksgiving celebration in San Elizario. Hall was dressed in the stuffy garb of a 16th-century Spanish conquistador.

"I said, 'There's a guy I need to get to know,' " Sargent said.

Over lunch about two years ago, Hall told Sargent that he wanted to make sure work with the missions and other historic sites continued after he died.

"Not being able to live forever was a big frustration for him," Sargent said. "There was so much he wanted to do."

Hayley Kappes may be reached at hkappes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6168. Follow her on Twitter @hayleykappes

Alex Hinojosa contributed to this report.

Funeral services

Funeral services for Sheldon Hall will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Presidio Chapel in San Elizario, 1556 San Elizario.

Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Hall's name to the El Paso County Historical Society.